Medicine Hat

City of Medicine Hat
—  City  —
Looking South from Finlay Bridge. The City Hall, Courthouse and Medicine Hat Public Library are visible across the South Saskatchewan River.

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): The Hat, The Gas City
Motto: "Animo et Fide"  (Latin)
"By Courage and Faith"
City of Medicine Hat is located in Alberta
City of Medicine Hat
Location of Medicine Hat in Alberta
Coordinates:
Country  Canada
Province  Alberta
Region Southern Alberta
Census division 1
Settled 1883
Incorporated October 31, 1898 (town)
Incorporated May 9, 1906 (city)
Government
 - Mayor Normand Boucher
 - Governing body Medicine Hat City Council
 - MP LaVar Payne
–(Cons - Medicine Hat)
 - MLAs Rob Renner
–(PC - Medicine Hat)
Leonard Mitzel
–(PC - Cypress-Medicine Hat)
Area[1]
 - Total 112.01 km2 (43.2 sq mi)
Elevation 670 m (2,198 ft)
Population (2009)[2][3]
 - Total 61,097
 - Density 545.46/km2 (1,412.7/sq mi)
Time zone MST (UTC-7)
Postal code span T1A to T1C
Area code(s) 403
Website City of Medicine Hat

Medicine Hat, known to locals as "The Hat", is a city of 61,097[2][3] people located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is enclaved within Cypress County along with the nearby Town of Redcliff, although neither is part of the county.

The logo of the City of Medicine Hat.

It is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway, the eastern terminus of the Crowsnest Highway, and the South Saskatchewan River. Nearby communities considered part of the Medicine Hat area include the Town of Redcliff (located immediately adjacent to the city's northwest boundary) and the hamlets of Desert Blume, Dunmore, Irvine, Seven Persons, and Veinerville. The Cypress Hills (including Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park) is a relatively short distance (by car) to the southeast of the city.

Historically, Medicine Hat has been known for its large natural gas fields, being immortalised by Rudyard Kipling as having "all hell for a basement".[4] Because of these reserves, the city is known as The Gas City. It is Alberta's sixth largest city. In October 2008, Medicine Hat was named one of Alberta's Top Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc., which was announced by the Calgary Herald[5] and the Edmonton Journal.[6][7]

Contents

Geography

The Medicine Hat landscape is dominated by the South Saskatchewan River valley. In addition to this major river, both the Seven Persons Creek and Ross Creek empty into the South Saskatchewan River within the City of Medicine Hat boundary. The presence of these water bodies provide for a dramatic valley landscape with numerous cliffs, and finger coulees throughout the city. Beyond the city and river valley the land is flat to slightly rolling and is characterized by short-grass vegetation. Medicine Hat is also known as Canada's sunniest city.

Twenty-five miles to the east at lies the Badlands Guardian Geological Feature. It is a landscape formation taking the form of a head wearing a feathered headdress. The head is 1,000 feet (300 m) wide. It is in inverse relief, formed by valleys rather than raised ground.

Neighbourhoods

Climate

Located in the steppe region known as Palliser's Triangle, Medicine Hat has a semi-arid, continental climate (Köppen climate classification BSk), with cold, dry winters and warm to hot summers. However, the winter cold is occasionally ameliorated by mild and dry chinook winds blowing from the west, and hot summer daytime temperatures are made more tolerable by low humidity and rapid cooling in the evening hours. Medicine Hat receives less precipitation annually than many other cities on the Canadian Prairies and plentiful sunshine (widely known as "The sunniest city in Canada")[8], making it a popular retirement city. Maximum precipitation typically occurs in the late spring and early summer.

Climate data for Medicine Hat
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.3
(64.9)		 21.1
(70)		 28.9
(84)		 35.6
(96.1)		 37.2
(99)		 41.7
(107.1)		 42.2
(108)		 41.1
(106)		 37.8
(100)		 33.9
(93)		 24.4
(75.9)		 20
(68)		 42.2
(108)
Average high °C (°F) -4.5
(23.9)		 -0.5
(31.1)		 5.8
(42.4)		 13.7
(56.7)		 19.4
(66.9)		 23.8
(74.8)		 26.9
(80.4)		 26.8
(80.2)		 20.6
(69.1)		 14
(57)		 3.6
(38.5)		 -2.2
(28)		 12.3
(54.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) -10.2
(13.6)		 -6.2
(20.8)		 -0.3
(31.5)		 6.8
(44.2)		 12.5
(54.5)		 16.8
(62.2)		 19.5
(67.1)		 19.1
(66.4)		 13.1
(55.6)		 7
(45)		 -2.2
(28)		 -7.9
(17.8)		 5.7
(42.3)
Average low °C (°F) -15.9
(3.4)		 -11.9
(10.6)		 -6.4
(20.5)		 -0.1
(31.8)		 5.5
(41.9)		 9.9
(49.8)		 12
(54)		 11.4
(52.5)		 5.6
(42.1)		 -0.1
(31.8)		 -8
(18)		 -13.6
(7.5)		 -1
(30)
Record low °C (°F) -46.1
(-51)		 -46.1
(-51)		 -38.9
(-38)		 -26.7
(-16.1)		 -11.1
(12)		 -1.1
(30)		 1.2
(34.2)		 -0.6
(30.9)		 -12.8
(9)		 -28.7
(-19.7)		 -37.8
(-36)		 -45.8
(-50.4)		 -46.1
(-51)
Precipitation mm (inches) 13.7
(0.539)		 9.3
(0.366)		 18.3
(0.72)		 24.8
(0.976)		 46
(1.81)		 62.6
(2.465)		 40.6
(1.598)		 33.3
(1.311)		 36.2
(1.425)		 18.5
(0.728)		 15.8
(0.622)		 14.7
(0.579)		 333.8
(13.142)
Sunshine hours 105 135.8 176.8 231.5 283.6 302.9 351.1 314.7 216.6 184.2 116.6 94.1 2,512.9
Source: Environment Canada[8]

History

Name origins

The name "Medicine Hat" is the English translation of 'Saamis' (SA-MUS)- the Blackfoot word for the eagle tail feather headdress worn by medicine men - or 'Medicine Hat'. Several legends are associated with the name from a mythical merman river serpent named Soy-yee-daa-bee, the creator, who appeared to a hunter and instructed him to sacrifice his wife to get mystical powers which were manifest in a special hat. Another legend tells of a battle long ago between the Blackfeet and the Cree in which a retreating "Medicine Man" lost his headdress in the South Saskatchewan River.

A number of factors have always made Medicine Hat a natural gathering place. Prior to the arrival of Europeans the Blackfoot, Cree and Assiniboine nations used the area for hundreds of years. The gently sloping valley with its converging water ways and hardy native cottonwood trees attracted both man and the migratory bison herds which passed through the area.

Founding

In 1883, when the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) reached Medicine Hat and crossed the river a town site was established using the name from the Indian legends. As the west developed, Medicine Hat became instrumental with the development of the first hospital past Winnipeg in 1889 and as a CPR divisional point. It was incorporated as a town on October 31, 1898, and as a city on May 9, 1906. Medicine Hat is halfway between Winnipeg and Vancouver.

Progress and growth

Rich in natural resources including natural gas, coal, clay, and farmland, the town was known in the early days as "the Pittsburgh of the West". A number of large industries located here, under the inducement of cheap and plentiful energy resources. Coal mines, brick works, pottery and glass bottle manufacturing plants, flour mills, etc. became established. The agricultural potential of the surrounding area, both in crop and livestock, also made the town a viable service center with a well established transportation route. An economic boom was experienced between 1909-1914 bringing the population to over 10,000. Little growth occurred between the World Wars, although the population swelled in the mid-1940s due to the town hosting one of the largest Second World War P.O.W. camps in Canada. It was not until the 1950s that the town again experienced significant commercial development. Today, Medicine Hat prides itself as one of the most economical places to live in Canada, with its unique city owned gas utility and power generation plant being predominant factors. Major industries have included chemical plants, a tire and rubber plant, a foundry, brickworks, etc. and Medicine Hat continues to grow and prosper.

Demographics

Census History
Year Population
1901 1,570
1911 5,608
1921 9,634
1931 10,300
1941 10,571
1951 16,364
1961 24,484
1971 26,518
1981 40,380
1991 43,625
2001 51,249
2006 56,997
2009 61,097

The population of the City of Medicine Hat according to its 2009 municipal census is 61,097.[2][3]

In 2006, Medicine Hat had a population of 56,997 living in 24,729 dwellings, an 11.2% increase from 2001. The city has a land area of 112.01 km2 (43.2 sq mi) and a population density of 508.9 /km2 (1,318/sq mi).[1]

More than 89 percent of residents identified English as their first language at the time of the 2006 census, while 6 percent identified German and just over 1 percent each identified Spanish and French as their first language learned. The next most common languages were Ukrainian, Chinese, Dutch, and Polish.[9]

More than 79 percent of residents identified as Christian at the time of the 2001 census while almost 20 percent indicated they had no religious affiliation. For specific denominations Statistics Canada counted 16,175 Roman Catholics (26.5 percent), 9,445 members of the United Church of Canada (15.5 percent), and 6,170 Lutherans (slightly more than 10 percent).[10] Less numerous denominations included 3,780 Anglicans (more than 6 percent), 1,745 members of the Evangelical Missionary Church (almost 3 percent), 1,470 Baptists (over 2 percent), 1,220 identifying as Pentecostal (2 percent), 1,215 Mormons (2 percent), and 675 Presbyterians (just over 1 percent).

Based on previous elections, Medicine Hat is the most conservative riding in Canada with the Conservative Party of Canada garnering anywhere between 70 - 80% of the vote.

Infrastructure

The Province of Alberta and the City of Medicine Hat are preparing future plans for the upgrading of the Trans Canada Highway in the region to freeway status.

The city owns the gas production, gas distribution, electric generation and electric distribution utilities that serve the citizens. The city is the 30th largest natural gas producer (by volume produced) in Canada.

The city is working on design of the South-West Sector Sanitary Trunk main, extension of South Boundary Road from Strachan Road to Southridge Drive, and a South-West Sector water transmission line. This infrastructure will accommodate the development of new residential communities west of South Ridge Dr, and south of the Seven Persons Creek.

The city is served by the Medicine Hat Airport and Medicine Hat Transit.

Several ICT business groups have started to come together to form a loose coalition whose prime objective is to facilitate economic growth and diversify the local economy by building a robust municipally owned community network based on fiber optic technologies.

Military

Medicine Hat is home to The South Alberta Light Horse (SALH), an army reserve unit. The SALH dates back to 1885 when it took part in the North-West Rebellion. Since then it has gained battle honours in the First and Second World Wars and today its members continue to serve overseas on United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organization missions. Currently the SALH has members serving in Afghanistan.

Medicine Hat was also home to a POW camp during the Second World War.

Canadian Forces Base Suffield is located 50 kilometers (31 mi) west of the city. It is estimated that the base contributes C$120 million annually to the local economy, principally through its two lodger units: British Army Training Unit Suffield, and Defence Research and Development Canada -- Suffield).

Attractions

Giant Tee-pee installation

The Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District[11] is a living, working museum that offers a unique and extensive experience through collections, exhibits, interpretation, guided tours and educational and artistic programming. The Medalta Potteries and Hycroft China Factory Complexes are the focal points in this 150-acre (0.6 km2) region. This nationally recognized industrial historic district is a cultural initiative of the Friends of Medalta Society with Federal, Provincial, Municipal and Private support. Restoration, preservation and cultural development of the Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District for the purpose of education and public enjoyment is ongoing.[12]

Just south of the Trans-Canada Highway and overlooking the Blackfoot buffalo jump, is the world's tallest teepee, the "Saamis Tepee". Designed for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary as a symbol of Canada's Aboriginal heritage, it was moved to Medicine Hat in 1991. It stands over 20 stories high and was designed to withstand extreme temperatures and winds up to 240 km/h (150 mph). During a January 2007 windstorm, a portion of the tepee was damaged. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that extensive weathering was partially to blame. After repairs were complete, the Saamis Tepee now stands approximately 15 feet (4.6 m) shorter.

The Medicine Hat Family Leisure Centre is the largest indoor multi purpose facility in the city. The building is 90,000 sq ft (8,000 m2) and is sited on 57 acres (230,000 m2) in the north end of the city. The facility includes olympic size ice rink, 50 m pool, waterslide, diving platforms, kiddies pool, wave pool, cafe, 4 ball diamonds, lighted football field, and 3 soccer pitches.

Located in downtown Medicine Hat, The Esplanade[13] is a large multi purpose cultural centre. The facility features a 700+ seat performing arts theatre, art gallery, museum, archives, gift shop, and cafe. The Esplanade officially opened in October 2005.

Medicine Hat Public Library is located across the street from The Esplanade. It has over 10,000 annual members and is the resource library for the Shortgrass Library System [14] of Southern Alberta.

Parks

There are over 100 kilometres (62 mi) of walking trails in the city. All of the major parks are linked by the extensive trail system.

View of the pond at Echodale Regional Park

Golf courses

Education

Medicine Hat School District No. 76 has been serving the needs of public school students since it came into existence in 1886. The District has five trustees and comprises 3 secondary schools, Alexandra Middle School (formerly Alexandra Junior High School), Crescent Heights High School and Medicine Hat High School, 12 elementary (K-6) schools, a special needs school for the severely disabled, as well as an Alternative School program which incorporates a joint partnership with the YMCA Teen Moms' Program, YMCA Stay-in-School Program, a program with the former Palliser Health for secondary students and a program supported by Children Services for students with behavioural needs. Medicine Hat School District has a current enrollment of 6,400 students for children from 2-1/2 years of age from ECS through Grade 12. French immersion programming is provided as an option.

The Medicine Hat Catholic/Separate School District provides educational programming for students ECS through Grade 12. French immersion programming is provided as an option in select District schools. The board of trustees are considered relatively new, following the last municipal election when all but one of the former trustees were replaced by the voting public. Shortly after the election, the former Superintendent of the district was fired and the deputy superintendent was dismissed months later. A search has been on to find suitable replacements.

Medicine Hat has a single Francophone school called the Ecole les Cypress as well at the Centre for Academic and Personal Excellence (CAPE) public/charter school.

The Medicine Hat College is located in south Medicine Hat. The first students were accepted to the college in 1965. Now with over 2,500 students and 3 campuses, the college has grown into an integral part of the community. Athletics include basketball, volleyball, golf, and soccer.

Contemporary issues

City Council chose the Box Springs Business Park site in August 2008 for the new events centre. Currently the city is working to secure funding.[15]

The City of Medicine Hat, the Town of Redcliff and Cypress County are together working on a plan that will govern the location and intensity of growth around the city for the next 50 years. The plan is anticipated to be adopted in the Fall of 2008.

Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation is currently negotiating with landowners south of the city to secure land for the future Trans-Canada Highway[16] freeway bypass. The bypass is expected to be constructed in the next 10–20 years.[17]

The average home price has climbed to $239,000 in May 2007.

Long serving MP Monte Solberg revealed in September 2008 that he would not be running in the next election. LaVar Payne won election as MP for Medicine Hat in the subsequent election in October, 2008; both Solberg and Payne are members of the Conservative Party of Canada.[18]

Local media

Medicine Hat has several radio and television stations broadcasting from it, as well as receiving radio stations from Calgary.

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Statistics Canada (Census 2006). "Medicine Hat - Community Profile". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4801006&Geo2=PR&Code2=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Medicine%20Hat&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=4801006. Retrieved 2007-06-14. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 City of Medicine Hat 2009 Census Final Report
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Alberta Municipal Affairs. "Alberta 2009 Official Population List". http://www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/documents/ms/2009pop.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-11. 
  4. ↑ Brennan, Brian (2003), Boondoggles, bonanzas, and other Alberta stories, Fifth House, p. 43, ISBN 1894004949, "This part of the country seems to have all hell for a basement, and the only trap door appears to be in Medicine Hat. And don’t you ever think of changing the name of your town. It’s all your own and the only hat of its kind on earth." 
  5. ↑ "Calgary Herald, "Alberta’s top 40 places to work”, October 18, 2008". http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/story.html?id=02b19397-2fdf-4039-ba29-b93eaf908adb. 
  6. ↑ "Edmonton Journal, "Alberta's best focus on attracting, keeping staff", October 31, 2008". http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/story.html?id=5bc8514a-b0eb-4538-bab4-a63f11f51a16. 
  7. ↑ "Reasons for Selection, 2009 Alberta's Top Employers competition". http://www.eluta.ca/top-employer-city-of-medicine-hat. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Environment Canada—Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  9. ↑ "Medicine Hat". Detailed Mother Tongue (186), Knowledge of Official Languages (5), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 and 2006 Censuses - 20% Sample Data. Statistics Canada. 20 November 2007. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=0&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=1&IPS=&METH=0&ORDER=1&PID=89201&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=No&StartRow=1&SUB=701&Temporal=2006&Theme=70&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&GID=838046. Retrieved 2008-02-06. 
  10. ↑ "Medicine Hat". Religion (95A), Age Groups (7A) and Sex (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas 1 and Census Agglomerations, 1991 and 2001 Censuses - 20% Sample Data. Statistics Canada. 1 March 2007. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/themes/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?Temporal=2001&PID=55822&APATH=3&METH=1&PTYPE=55440&THEME=56&FOCUS=0&AID=0&PLACENAME=0&PROVINCE=0&SEARCH=0&GC=99&GK=NA&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&FL=0&RL=0&FREE=0&GID=431634. Retrieved 2008-02-06. 
  11. ↑ Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District
  12. ↑ [1] - Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District
  13. ↑ The Esplanade
  14. ↑ Shortgrass Library System: Home
  15. ↑ "Box Springs Site chosen by council". Box Springs Business Park. http://www.bsbp.ca/pressrelease.htm. Retrieved 27 August 2010. 
  16. ↑ multiple (2010). The Rough Guide to Canada. Rough Guides. p. 661. ISBN 978-1848365032. 
  17. ↑ "Calgary Ring Road". roadtraffic-technology.com. http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/calgary-ring-road/. Retrieved 27 August 2010. 
  18. ↑ [hhttp://www.medicinehat.ca/City%20Government/Organizational%20Chart.pdf "Electorate of the City of Medicine Hat"]. City of Medicine Hat. hhttp://www.medicinehat.ca/City%20Government/Organizational%20Chart.pdf. Retrieved 27 August 2010. 
  19. ↑ Chris Osgood's hockey statistics profile at hockeydb.com
  20. ↑ Rooney, Sean, "Richard Hortness: A dream realized", Medicine Hat News, http://www.medicinehatnews.com/node/64454, retrieved 2010-02-09 
  21. ↑ "Gone but not forgotten - Tremere". Home arrow Obituaries - Medicine Hat arrow TREMERE. gonebutnotforgotten.ca. 2008. http://gonebutnotforgotten.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3975&Itemid=81. Retrieved 2008-12-12. 

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